10 Powerful Natural Pain Relievers
Ibuprofen or aspirin 💊 are quick and effective ways to relieve pain. But popping painkillers and other over the counter medications may harm your body if you take them regularly, plus they have many side effects 🤔. You may be looking 👀 for more natural ways to relieve and cope with pain. Here are our top 10 recommendations for natural 🌿 pain relief.
Ginger
Ginger is a root that shows a lot of promise as a natural pain reliever. Research has shown that ingesting just two grams of ginger per day modestly reduced muscle pain when people took it for at least five days. This research also suggested that ginger may accelerate recovery and reduce inflammation, particularly when it is caused by exercise 🏋️♂️.
Ginger blocks the formation of the inflammatory compounds prostaglandins and leukotrienes. It has antioxidant effects that break down existing inflammation and acidic fluid in our joints. Ginger has also been shown to reduce inflammation 🙌 in the colon and kidneys and is a great remedy for nausea.
Turmeric
You’ve probably heard about this popular spice before, and it’s what gives curry 🍛 its yellow colour 💛 and unique flavour 😋. Turmeric contains an active ingredient called curcumin which is responsible for lowering the levels of two enzymes that cause pain and inflammation.
A small study done in 2014 found that curcumin was as effective as ibuprofen for pain management in the treatment of knee 🦵 osteoarthritis when people took it for four weeks. While we are not claiming that any of these natural pain relievers are as effective as painkillers, the findings of this study are interesting, nonetheless.
Cloves
While whole cloves are often used as a spice for meat 🍖 and ground cloves are used in a wide variety of foods 🥙, they also have great medicinal properties. Cloves can be used to ease nausea 🤮 and treat colds 😷, and they may also help relieve pain associated with headaches, arthritic inflammation, and toothache 🦷. They can also be used as a topical pain reliever.
The active ingredient in cloves is eugenol, a natural pain reliever found in some over the counter pain rubs. Rubbing a little bit of clove oil on your gums may also ease toothache.
Capsaicin
Usually derived from chillies 🌶, capsaicin is a topical remedy that can reduce nerve, muscle, and joint pain. It does this by stopping a chemical known as ‘substance P’ from transmitting pain signals to your brain 🧠. Many pain-relieving products on the market contain capsaicin.
Capsaicin is available in a gel or cream form and can be applied to painful areas up to four times a day. Don’t be surprised if you experience a burning or tingling sensation when applying this remedy topically; it’s rather spicy after all!
Fish Oil
As we’ve mentioned before, inflammation plays a big role in causing pain. A known source of anti-inflammatory properties is fish 🐟 oil.
Researchers have found that more than 50 percent of patients with neck or back pain who take 1,200 milligrams of fish oil supplements with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid per day for 75 days reported that they had stopped needing to take prescription painkillers.
Heat and Ice
One thing that we regularly advise our patients to do is to use hot ♨ and cold 🧊 therapy to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. In the case of an injury, apply ice right away rather than heat. In the case of persistent pain and stiffness from common back and neck issues, heat can work wonders.
Lavender Essential Oil
Essential oils have long been valued for their analgesic effects. Lavender 💜 essential oil, specifically, is dynamite 💣 in a small package. You can use lavender oil for pain relief, to improve the quality of your sleep, and to ease anxiety.
A 2012 study found that inhaling lavender oil may relieve pain associated with migraines. You can also rub lavender oil into your temples to relieve headaches and help calm nerves, stress, or anxiety. You can also rub it on your chest or into sore joints to relax muscles. Remember to avoid using essential oils if you are pregnant.
Meditation
This may sound farfetched to some, but meditation 🧘♂️ is an excellent way to relieve pain naturally. Meditation doesn’t have to be done any certain way, so don’t panic if a particular kind of meditation doesn’t feel right to you. There are many approaches to meditation, and it’s important to find what works for you.
There is research that found that 109 patients with chronic pain who practiced meditation experienced pain relief as well as less anxiety and depression and a better quality of life.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy 💆♂️ carries many benefits, including stress and tension relief, improved blood circulation, and lymph system stimulation. It also helps to remove unwanted toxins and pathogens. Most importantly, though, massage therapy is a powerful pain reliever that is totally natural.
It’s difficult to list all the benefits of massage therapy as there are so many of them. But you can read more about massage therapy here.
Chiropractic Care
When it comes to chronic pain, chiropractic care can achieve amazing results. Chiropractic care is natural, gentle 🤗, and catered to the specific pain you’re experiencing. So much of the pain that we experience is a result of an issue with our musculoskeletal 🦴 system, which is the focus for us as chiropractors.
Chiropractic care can also help restore a sense of wellbeing 🌈. Some patients report feeling a boost in energy 🏃♂️, improved sleep 🛌 quality, and positive changes to digestion.
If you are interested in massage therapy or chiropractic care as a natural option for pain relief, send us an email at admin@inspiredhealthchiropractic.com or click here to get in touch.
